RoSPA’s online safety hub prepares businesses for winter

As temperatures plummet across the UK, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is offering businesses and families advice from its new Winter Safety Hub.

Businesses can view information on responsible working conditions in freezing weather and advice for driving on ice and snow. A safer journey planner is provided for drivers setting out on long journeys over the festive season and a winter driving factsheet advises motorists on staying safe in poor conditions.

Figures from the Department for Transport show that across Great Britain in 2011, 32 people were killed and 3,912 people were injured in reported road accidents when there was snow or ice on the road. There were also six people killed and 672 injured when it was snowing at the time.

Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at RoSPA, said: “With the UK braced for frost, ice and snow, it is a good time to get prepared. Driving conditions at this time of year can be treacherous so it pays for drivers to be one step ahead and for employers to also think about keeping their staff stay safe by considering options such as working from home when the snow arrives.”

The dedicated web page features sections on clearing ice and snow on pavements and how to avoid slips, trips and falls as figures show there were over 4,000 admissions to hospital in England last year due to people falling over on snow or ice.

RoSPA’s Winter Safety Hub is found at: www.rospa.com/wintersafety/